5 key facts about this project
The project located in the Grjotagja area within Vogar farmland serves as a shelter for tourists, designed to blend with the surrounding natural landscape. It enhances the visitor experience while encouraging exploration of the region's unique geological features. The overall design concept focuses on simplicity and preserving nature, inviting visitors to discover the area's natural secrets during their journey.
Entrance and Engagement
As visitors approach, they encounter a pathway lined with Alaskan Lupin flowers that leads to the building's entrance. The façade includes two corten metal panels, each featuring engravings that illustrate the tectonic plates of Europe and North America. This design element acts as a welcoming entry point and connects visitors with the geological stories of the area, encouraging curiosity and exploration of the environment.
Interior Experience
Inside, the design creates an intimate atmosphere that contrasts with the exterior. Visitors have the opportunity to sit and enjoy refreshments while taking in the view of how natural rock formations interact with the interior space. This connection to nature is emphasized, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the beauty of their surroundings and experience the landscape from a different perspective.
Circulation and Vistas
A prominent aspect of the design is the central stair path that guides visitors to a viewing platform. From this elevated position, they can witness the sunset as it casts vibrant colors across the horizon. This scene serves to highlight the focus on geological unity, representing the meeting point of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, a key feature of the area's identity.
Information and Functionality
Functional elements are incorporated into the design, such as information stands made from weathered steel panels. These stands provide resources about the caves and the tectonic divide, enriching the visitor experience with important context. Service areas, including restrooms and storage, are strategically located to ensure visitor comfort while preserving the natural integrity of the site.
The interior features carefully placed seating areas that encourage reflection. Large windows frame views of the beautiful landscape, allowing the natural environment to become part of the space, creating a strong connection between inside and outside.